Combination tank vent, flame arrester, and automatic snuffer



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1 f 1,628,199 -G. @SCHMIDT ET AL COMBINATION TAN/x VENT FLAME ARREST'ER AND ATOMATIC SNUFFERl Filled March so, 1925 s Sheets-sheet 1 Si q v Q fo O l/ w.. Q a N v l l I w N N i; Il m t y A l* 1;( jr` \1 i l N G INVENTORS L MWALLL` A TTOR EY.

A 1,628,199 May 10 1927' G. c. SCHMIDT ET AlyCOMBINATION 'IANK VENT FLAME ARRESTER AND ATOMATIC SNUFFER- Filed March 30, '1925 3 Shets-SheebZ N INVENTORS May 10,1927. 1,628,199

G. c. SCHMIDT ET A1.

COMBINATION TANK VENT FLAME. ARRESTER 'AND ATOMATIC SNUFFER Filed March so, l1925V s sheets-sheets so ,f z5 .0 o(

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Puentes May 1o, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE C. SCHMIDT AND FRANS G. D. MULLER, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.

COMBINATION TANK VENT, FLAME ARRESTER, AND AUTOMATIC SNUFFEB.

Application led March 30, 1925. Serial No. 19,385.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a combination tank vent, flame arrester and automatic snufer.

One object of this invention is to produce an apparatus of the character described specially designed for use in connection with vapor tight tanks, or reservoirs containing evaporative fluids such as crude petroleum or its derivatives, andwhereby the pressure of l0 vapors generated within the tank or a partial vacuum within the tank caused by condensation, or contraction of vapor within the tank, or withdrawal of liquid therefrom, may be relieved. y

Another object of this invention is to produce an apparatus of the character described so constructed as to prevent communication of lire to the vapors orfiuid within the tank from the burning vapor outside the tank, in case of ignition of the latter by lightning,

or otherwise, and the apparatus also embodies an automatic snufer designedto automatically extinguish the outside flame, lin case of such' ignition and at the same time permit the outlet of vapor from the tank and the inlet of air into same, so as to maintain the ressures within-and without the tank within certain limits sov as to prevent the bursting, or collapsing-of the tank.

With the above and other obiects in view this invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement of` parts an exam le of which is given in this Aspecification an illustrated in the accompanying drawmgs, where- Figure 1 shows a vertical sectional view of the apparatus. n

Figure 2 shows a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 2-.2 o f Figure 1.

Figure 3shows a plan view.

Figure 4 shows avertical sectional view of the vent discharge and the automatic snuer associated therewith, and v Figure 5 shows a vertical sectional view thereof taken on the line 5 5. i

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein like numerals of reference designate similar parts in each of the ligures, the numeral 1 desi ates a tank or reservor which, except as ereinafter stated, is

fluid tight. This may be a crude oil tank or-a tank or reservoir for contaimng any other evaporating iiuid. The apparatus, 1t

is to be understood, may be used 1n connec-` tion with any type of tank or reservoir where it is desired to maintain a substan- Y tially equal pressure within and without the tank; or to revent the bursting of the tank from excesslve pressure within it or the collapsing thereof `by reason of the outside air pressure; or where it is desired to safely permit the escape of inflammable vapors from the tank;

The numeral 2 designates a vent tube which leads from the tank, preferably from the top, or upper part thereof.

Fastened to the outer end of this vent tube there is a Valve casing'3, whose up er f end is normallyr closed by the remova le screw plug 4. Formed integrally with one side of the casing 3 there is a tubular neck 'whose outer ond is flared, forming a concavo-convex tiange 6, and integral with the neck there is an inwardly extending shell 7,

of semicircular contour, in plan view. The

top and bottom of this shell have concentric circular openings 8 and 9 to receive the annular valve seats 10 and 11. These seats are anchored in fix'ed relation bythe vertical bars 12, preferably six in number, whose upper ends are also attached to the ring 13 against which the screw plug 4 abuts when screwed into place. The ring 13 has a crossbar 14, forming a handle so that when the plug 4 is removed the' ring 13 and the seats i 10 and 11 may be removed asa unit. For this purpose the opening 8 is offa diameter.v to permit the passage through it, of the seat 11. When these parts are removed access to the inside of the tank 1` is permitted, for measuring the iiuid therein, or for othendesired purposes. 'The upper sides of the valve seats are formed with annular knife edges,

and they taper, or decline outwardly from said edges. Seated on the respective seats 10 and 11 are the disc like valves 15 and 16 which are confined against lateral displacement by the stays 12 which form cages for said valves. These valves normally seat on the lmife edges of said valve seats and form ing an air inlet passageway 17 into the vent' tube`2.

Spaced screens 18, 18 are provided.` These -screens are clamped between the grids, or

A vapor tight joints therewith and ycondensalll frame, t9, 19, 19 whose margins lit against the outer margin of the Harige 6 and clamped against which is the ring .20. These screens are provided to prevent the flame of the free vapor outside o the tank from-being communicated to the vapor withintlie tank, on the well known principle.

The numeral 2l designates a hood which is secured in place by means of the clam bolts 22 which pass through the base thereof and through the bearings 23, carried by the flange 6, and are held in place by the wing nuts 24. A foraminated metallic plate 25 is spaced outside the screens 18 and its margins are clamped between the ring 20 and the base of the hood 21. This plate is provided to protect the screens agalnst mechanical injury, and also to keep burning vapors away from the screen. It will be noted that the clamp bolts 22 not onlysecure the hood 21Y in place but clamp the screens 18 and their protecting plates 25 in position, as well and by loosening the nuts 23, and removing the end bolts 24, at one side, the screens 18.

or plate 25, or both may be readily removed for inspection or repairs, and as readily replaced.

The structure hereinabove described, supported by the neck 5, forms a vapor outlet and an air inlet. Pivoted to the ear 26, there is a lever 27 whose outer end supports a d0or`28 adapted to close the outer end of the hood 21. This door is pivoted to the lever 26 and has a central air inlet opening 29 which is normally closed by the inside shutter 30, which is swung from the lugs 31, through the link 32 which 1s p1votally connected to said lug and shutter. The door` 28 is normally held in open position by means of the bars 33, 34, which are connected by a link 35 of fusible metal, the former of which is anchored to the upper part of the hood 21, and the latter of which is connected to the lever 27 behind the ear 26, by means of a chain 36. The inner end of the lever 27 carries an overbalancing weight 37, which is provided to swing the door 28 into position to close the hood 21 should the link 35 melt and separate ,the rods 33, 34; as hereinafter stated.

With the tank wholly or partly filled w1th petroleum the vaporization of the same will gradually create pressure withinthe tank until the pressure is suflicient to "lift the valve 16, from time to time to perm1t the escape of the vapor. The pressure required to lift said valve will depend on the we1ght of the valve. The vapor thus escaping will pass out to free air through the neck 5 and the hood 21. In case ythe petroleum is drawn off from the tank, or of condensation or contraction of vapor therein, a partial vacuum will be created therein and the outside air pressure will lift the valve 15 and admit air into the tank through the passageway 17 .Y

Incase the gas escaping should become ignited outside of the tank, as by lightning, the flame will be arrested by the screens 18 and Will not be communicated to the gas or oil in the tank. If the flame continues it will soon melt the link 35 and thereupon the weight 37 will be released and it will swing the door 28 into closed position and this p will extinguish the flame.

lVhile the door is in closed position the vapor accumulating in the tank will, from time to time, as the pressure increases, force the door28 open, to relieve the pressure. In like manner a vacuum formed in the tank will be relieved by the inlet of' additional air through the shutter opening 29.

What we claim is z*- 1. An apparatus adapted for application to a fluid reservoir and having a passageway provided for the exit of fluid from said reservoir and the inlet of air into the reservoir, valve seats in saidA passageway, valves cooperating with said seats and controlling said passageways, one of said valves being adapted to open under the influence of pressure outwardly from said reservoir, through said passageway, the other of said valves being adapted to open under the inHuence of fluid pressure in the opposite direction through said passageway, swinging doors adapted to close said passageway and one of which is arranged to normally be held closed by gravity, means tending to swing the other door into closed position and means including a fusible link normally holding the last named door open.

Y 2. An apparatus adapted for application to a fluid reservoir and having a passageway provided for the exit of fluid from said reservoir and the inlet of air into the reservoir, valve seats in said passageway, valves cooperating with said seats and controlling said passageways, one of said valves being adapted to open under the influence of pressure outwardly from said reservoir. through said passageway, the other of said valves being adapted to open under the influence of fluid pressurein the opposite direction through said passageway, a door adapted to close the outer end of said passageway and formed with an inlet opening, an inwardly opening shutter mounted to be held by gravity in position to normally close said opening, releasable means normally holding the door in open-position and means normally tending to close said door.

3. An apparatus adapted for application t0 a fluid reservoir and having a passageway provided for the exit of fluid from said reservoir and the inlet of air into the reservoir, valve seats in said passageway, valves cooperating with said seats and controlling sind passageways, one of said valves being adapted to open under the influence of pressure outwardly from said reservoir, through Ilm 3o bec said passageway, the other of said valves being adapted to open under the influence of fluid pressure in the opposite direction through said passageway,l a foraminated partition spanning said passageway, said valves being between the partition and reservoir, doors adapted to close the outer end of the passageway, one of which is mounted to be closed by gravity, means tending to swing the other door' into closed position, means including a Jfusible link and normally holding the last named door in open position. 4. An apparatus adapted for application to a fluid reservoir and having a passageway provided for the exit of fluid ,from said reservoir and the inlet of air into the reservoir, valve seats in said passageway, valves cooperating with said seats and controlling said passageways, one of said valves being` adapted to open under the influence of pressure outwardly from said reservoir. through said passageway, the other of said valves bebeing adapted to open under the influence of fluid pressure in the opposite direction through said passageway, a foraininated partition spanning said passageway, said valves being between the partition and reservoir, doors adapted to close the outer end of the assa eway, one of which is mounted to iosed y gravity, means tending to swing the other door into closed position, means in- .between the door and said partition. y

'5. An apparatus adapted for application to a luid i'eservoiiand having a passageway provided for the exit of fluid from said res-V ervoir land the inlet of air into the reservoir, valve seats in said passageway, valves cooperating with said seats and controlling said passageways. one of said valves being adapted to open under the influence of pressure outwardly from said reservoir, through said passageway, the other of said valves be being adapted to open under the influence of fluid pressure in the op osite direction through said passageway, a orininated partition spanning said passageway, said valves being between the partition and reservoir, a door adapted to close the outer end of said passageway and formed with an inlet opening, an inwardly opening shutter adapted to normally close said opening, releasable means normally holding the door open and means for actuating the door into closed position upon release of said releasable means.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification.

annees o SCHMIDT. mans o. n MULLER. 

